For three years now St Colman's, Fermoy, have held out against all contenders to their title as rulers of Colleges senior hurling, but Saturday's All-Ireland final against St Kieran's, Kilkenny, will challenge that authority to new heights.

In the 18 years that Denis Ring has coached the St Colman's team he reckons no team will come better built to beat his side than St Kieran's.

"This is an incredibly talented St Kieran's team," says Ring. "For a start you have the backbone of the All-Ireland winning minor team of last year. You also have some outstanding players in all areas of the field, including Donnacha Cody in defence, the son of Kilkenny manager Brian Cody.

"In fact I've seen St Kieran's play for the past 18 years now and I think this is the best side they've ever had. Definitely the most skilful. And that includes the year they had DJ Carey and Adrian Ronan."

St Colman's, however, haven't won the All-Ireland title for the past two years with a second-rate team. Their star forward, Andrew O'Shaughnessy, is already well established in the Limerick senior team, and Patrick Kirby also has the brightest of futures. Yet Ring is making no secret of his team's need to perform at their very best.

"To be honest I don't know if we're as well balanced as the last couple of years. We have done well to win out matches this year but we're fully conscious of the need to play to our full potential in Clonmel on Saturday. And we certainly can't afford to be dependent on two or three players."

The truth is few teams have ever won three All-Ireland Colleges hurling titles in succession. The last team to do it was St Kieran's (1988-90), and prior to that it was only ever done by St Flannan's, Ennis - who actually won four (1944-47).

"I think winning three Harty Cups (the Munster title) in succession has been a huge achievement this year," adds Ring. "That was the first time St Colman's have ever done it, having failed three times before. Having said that we will start Saturday's game as underdogs, and that will be a new position for this team.

"What I want them to do is go out an enjoy themselves, and rise to the challenge. We know the quality we are up against, but if we can express ourselves in the way we can and get the right sort of supply into O'Shaughnessy and Kirby then we can make a game of it. And whether it's a classic or not I don't care."

Ring singles out O'Shaughnessy as the high point in his team of the past three years.

"We are taking about a player that has it all," he says, "and I've no doubt he will go all the way. A total out-and-out forward. What people don't realise is that he is also an excellent student and whenever we win anything such as the Harty Cup he always get straight back into his studies."

Last year's win over the same opposition probably saw St Colman's at their peak. Only one point separated the sides in the end and between them O'Shaughnessy and Kirby contributed almost half the St Colman's scores. Saturday's outcome is unlikely to be much different.

Yet St Kieran's will start as the more daunting side. Forward Richie Power helped carve up the Tipperary team in last year's minor final, and there are also names like Tennyson and Prendergast well spread around the team. Pure Kilkenny stock.

So the challenge facing St Colman's couldn't be any clearer.

SATURDAY: All-Ireland Colleges, Senior Hurling A final: St Colman's, Fermoy v St Kieran's, Kilkenny, Clonmel, 3.30, S McMahon (Clare).

(Extra-time if necessary).